ESL Program

ESL PROGRAM

The Program in English as a Second Language is a world-renowned program for students, instructors, administrators, and staff who are committed to the teaching of English to non-native speakers. The ESL Program seeks to support the University’s international students by providing ESL instruction, to enhance undergraduate education through work with international teaching assistants, to train prospective ESL teachers, and to support the University’s community and international goals.

ESL learners come to school with existing language skills, cultural knowledge, social knowledge and cognitive abilities. This linguistic and cultural diversity is valued in itself.As well, research indicates that a student’s level of language competence in his or her first language infl uences the rate of second language learning. Developing fi rst language competence is important not only for reasons of identity and community but also for developing the cognitive, linguistic and cultural understandings learners need to be able to learn another language.